Saturday, August 08, 2009

Been out of town for several days this week at the Wisdom and Eloquence conference in Ft Wayne. I have LOTS and lots of things to "think through" by sitting at the computer writing about them -- mostly about classical ed or certain theological points. Met some great people at the conference and spent some time with old friends too.

While there we also helped load up Katie and Nathan's rental truck for their move to Texas. I would have pictures to post of the friends who helped, but my computer is broken. (I'm borrowing one right now, largely for the sake of letting y'all know why I'm ignoring blogs and emails since Thursday.)

We're supposed to visit the zoo today for the summer outing/picnic for Gary's place of employment. It was drizzly yesterday morning, and has been raining pretty much since early yesterday afternoon. My garden is drenched so I can't do any catch-up work out there anyway. But going to the zoo in a downpour isn't a very exciting proposition either. The weather map makes it look like the afternoon may be okay.

Nathan is in Texas unloading the truck. Katie and Alia are here with us for a couple of days to say their good-byes and also so that I can play catch-up in the kitchen (and apparently not in the garden... darn!) and go to church before we girls take the car to Texas. I'll get to see their new place and then fly home on Wednesday. I flew to Florida when Paul was a baby and to St Louis more than 10 years ago. I'm scared of how to pack post-911 and what they're going to take out of my purse/suitcase and throw in the garbage. Frugal people don't like their shampoo bottles and nail clippers thrown in the garbage!

Hopefully the new computer parts will arrive in the mail by the time I return home and I will be able to return to my computer addiction.

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Exodus 16:2-3 Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, "Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full!

Exodus 16:11-12 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am Yahweh your God.'"

We see the miracles and are impressed by them. Wow -- God gave them manna from heaven! Wow -- God parted the Red Sea and let the Israelites cross over on dry ground! Wow -- the Angel destroyed the firstborn of Egypt but passed over the houses protected by the blood of the lamb! Wow!

But Pastor pointed out there's something bigger. For whom did God do these things?

Complainers.Whiners.Rebels.God-haters.

When they sassed Him, He did not give them what they deserved for their murmuring; He did not make them go hungry but gave them quail and manna. When they bemoaned their fate when they were pinned in by the Red Sea, He didn't blow them off for their doubts: He made a way to rescue them.

Adjusting the laws of nature to do what He desires is certainly a miracle. But how much greater a miracle that He is merciful to those who spit in His face! He does what He does because of His promise and because of His heart of love, not because of anything in us.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

This week's [three-year series] epistle was from Ephesians 4. In it we hear about the gospel, and the ministry, and the Church. We hear how the Faith unites the Church, and that God instituted the office of the ministry so that we might not be deceived by false doctrine but be united to Christ and grow closer to Him and one another. Right in the midst of this is the phrase, "Speaking the truth in love."

Usually when I hear people using that phrase, they're in the process of speaking the Law to you, telling you what you need to do to fix yourself and make yourself holier. But, see, they're doing it "in love," so that makes it okay (they say).

When you look at that phrase in the context of the apostle's letter, it doesn't quite come off that way. I guess your perspective kinda depends on what you believe about "the Faith" and "the truth" and what it means to "grow up" into Christ.

Monday, August 03, 2009

It seems to have gotten to be so much harder to go on a trip. When the kids were babies, it was a big to-do: play-pen and diapers and blankies and all that. As the kids became more adept at packing their own clothes and amusements, trips became simpler. But now trips are becoming more intimidating again, and I think I've finally figured out why.

It's hard enough at home to keep track of all the piddly daily self-care items. When we're traveling, it's a booger just to remember something as basic as brushing my teeth! But it's almost impossible when I'm away from my kitchen and my home-routine to remember to take my vitamins and my pills, to drink enough water, to say my prayers, to exercise, to neti, etc. Back when I was young [ahem!] I could skip those things with impunity. But old age means1) you feel it when you forget those things, and2) everything is so much harder to remember.

A company, feeling it was time for a shake-up, hires a new CEO. This new boss is determined to rid the company of all slackers. On a tour of the facilities, the CEO notices a guy leaning on a wall. The room is full of workers, and he thinks this is his chance to show everyone he means business!

The CEO walks up to the guy and asks, “And how much money do you make a week?”

Undaunted, the young fellow looks at him and replies, “I make $200 a week. Why?”

The CEO then hands the guy $200 in cash and screams, “Here’s a week’s pay, now GET OUT and don’t come back!” Feeling pretty good about his first firing, the CEO looks around the room and asks, “Does anyone want to tell me what that slacker did here?”

With a sheepish grin, one of the other workers mutters, “That was the pizza delivery guy”.